The Red Wings never negotiate contract extensions during the playoffs, so it was either sign him now or let Datsyuk get closer to free agency. I was really worried that they were going to lose him, so I'm glad that they got the deal done. I never expected it to be for seven years though. This will ensure that Pavel will remain a Wing for the prime of his career, which is a good thing.

For those that are interested, TSN.ca is reporting that the contract is worth $46.9M. That averages out to $6.7M per year. It may seem like a lot right now, but by the time the contract nears the end, it might be considered a bargain.

I'm not very worried about Datsyuk in the playoffs this year. Last season, he was coming off of an injury and was never 100%. I can't explain his previous playoffs, but he has become a better all around player since that time, so I'm really not concerned.